Grants could help create 500 jobs for Southern Illinois

Rural Development has approved two grants to benefit Pulaski and Edwards counties.

The Southernmost Illinois Delta Empowerment Zone in Ullin will receive a grant for $150,000. These funds will be used to provide technical assistance and businesses support services to train, assist and advise businesses. This project will be supplemented with $50,100 in state and local funds allowing the creation of 40 new jobs.

The Southeastern Alliance of Illinois Inc. will receive a grant for $40,000. This award will be used for a variety of economic development activities in a nine-county area. This project represents a collaboration between developers and city officials. Supplemented with $57,476 from several state and local sources, this project could create 465 new jobs and assist 20 businesses in the area, according to state officials.